"Our basic purpose is to use the collective strength of the labor movement in the state to protect and advance the interests of all workers and their families.The Hawai'i State AFL-CIO is a voluntary federation of 70 local affiliate unions and councils in the State whose parent international unions are affiliated at the national level with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). We are one of 51 state federations operating under a charter granted by the AFL-CIO. Like its parent AFL-CIO, the Hawai'i State AFL-CIO does no bargaining with employers. It is not a union, but a union of unions. The Hawai'i State AFL-CIO serves its constituent unions by speaking for the entire labor movement before the state legislature and other branches of state and county government. Our basic purpose is to use the collective strength of the labor movement in the state to protect and advance the interests of all workers and their families. We provide affiliates with a mechanism to exchange views and make decisions to promote a unified voice and unified action. We provide affiliates with a process to come together in support of political candidates, to fight for legislation and cooperate in other mutually agreed on goals, programs and services. "